Helen Grant

NHS Chief Executive and Shadow Health Secretary to meet

Maidstone, Kent, March 4th 2010 - The battle to save a full maternity service at Maidstone Hospital has gained a fresh new complexion with the prospect of constructive talks in the offing.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Chief Executive Mr Glenn Douglas met with prospective MP Helen Grant recently and agreed to her proposed meeting with the Conservative health team about trying to find a way forward. Later, in a separate meeting with Andrew Lansley MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Helen gained his agreement to come to Maidstone to visit Mr Douglas to discuss the reconfiguration of Maternity Services.

Helen said "I am very pleased with this development. When key people actually 'choose' to talk, there is a great chance that progress can be achieved. I firmly believe there is intent to seek a solution to our situation in Maidstone within both of these men. Following our successful MASH campaign the NHS Trust's plans were referred to the Labour minister Andrew Burnham for review only a few days ago. If Labour lose the next General Election, however, Mr Burnham is likely to be replaced by Andrew Lansley. Andrew's involvement at this stage is therefore critical, with the prospect of a general election only weeks away."

5 Feb 2010 Kent Messenger Maidstone by Mary Graham

MATERNITY services could be saved in Maidstone if the Conservatives win the general election.

Campaigners’ hopes were raised after shadow health minister Anne Milton (Con) was shown some of the thousands of petition signatures and documents collected by Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital (MASH).

Hospital bosses want to concentrate full maternity services at the new Pembury Hospital when it opens next year. It will leave a birthing unit, staffed only by midwives, in Maidstone.

Mrs Milton, 54, who has four children, said: "I gather that there is huge concern locally about the restructuring of maternity services in Maidstone, which is based on a consultation that is six years old."

"If we want to offer real choice to women we need to have a range of services available. I hope that these plans are looked at again with current, up-to-date information."

"We need to give women real choice, and consequently we need to offer a range of services in a range of locations to meet their needs. "

"Any maternity unit that is proven to produce good outcomes and is popular with mothers should be congratulated, not penalised."

The meeting with Mrs Milton was arranged by Helen Grant, prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald.

It comes just a few weeks after a delegation handed over petitions and letters to Downing Street.

Those who want to hear how the maternity campaign is progressing are urged to attend the annual meeting of the MASH campaign group.

It will take place at the United Reformed Church, Week Street, Maidstone, from 7pm on Thursday, February 18.

Your Maidstone by Anna White

THE fight against changing Maidstone's maternity services has been backed by the Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, who has now called for a fresh consultation.

Maidstone and Weald's Tory par­liamentary candidate Helen Grant met with Anne Milton MP to discuss the mass objection to moving the town's consultant-led maternity unit to the new Pembury hospital.

The Conservative hopeful took the opportunity to show the Shadow Minister the thousands of signatures she and her fellow parliamentary candidates have collected against the plans, and share the feeling from concerned residents that the original 2004 proposal needs to be reviewed.

Mrs Milton, 54, and mother-of-four, said: "I gather there is huge concern locally about the restructuring of maternity services in Maidstone, which is based on a consultation that is six years old.

"I hope that these plans are looked at again with current information."

"We need to give women real choice, and consequently we need to offer a range of services in a range of locations to meet their needs."

"Any maternity unit that is proven to produce good outcomes should be congratulated, not penalised, and under Conservative policy commis­sioners will be incentivised to keep successful units open."

The original consultation for the plans was held when disgraced for­mer health boss Rose Gibb was still in charge of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Gibb resigned in 2007 ahead of a damning report which linked the hospital's poor hygiene with lethal outbreaks of Clostridium difficile. She was later replaced by current chief executive Glenn Douglas.

At a meeting last year between Douglas, the NHS Trust board and Maidstone council's external overview and scrutiny committee, councillors expressed concern that the consultation was flawed.

Despite calls for a fresh review, Mr Douglas continued with plans for the new Pembury Hospital and last week told this paper he thought the first consultation was "well noticed" and received thousands of responses.

Mrs Grant and her parliamentary opponents - Liberal Democrat Peter Carroll, Green Party's Stuart Jeffery and Labour's Rav Seeruthun - pre­sented a petition of more than 20,000 signatures to Number 10 Downing Street and now hope to meet with Health Secretary Andrew Burnham.

The move is expected to take place by the end of this year, leaving Maidstone Hospital with a mid­wifery-led birthing centre.

Have a look at Helen’s Pram Push Protest on YouTube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM1TrlqTBY4

In true British Dunkirk spirit people from all walks turned out to help with the battle. Scores of Mums, Dads and their families from all over the Maidstone area came to support a campaign that matters to everyone - the protection of mums in childbirth. M.A.S.H. (Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital) executive committee member Helen Grant felt not enough was being done to highlight and oppose the effects of a decision by Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

They intend to close the consultant led full maternity facility in Maidstone and replace it with a midwife-run birthing unit in 2011. The area’s main maternity unit will then be based at the new Pembury Hospital, 17 miles from Maidstone just outside Tunbridge Wells.

Helen publicised this threat to Maidstone families by walking the route whilst pushing a pram for almost 6 hours on Sunday 27th September. A convoy of lorries as long as a freight train turned up at the start of the Pram push at Maidstone Hospital, festooned with banners and driven by furious Dads and their families to demonstrate the strength of feeling across the community. Former BBC SE Today presenter Geoff Clark came with his loud hailer and counted the crowd down to the start of the push at 9.00am. All along the way people came out of their homes to applaud and wave on the entourage, with passing drivers tooting their horns in support.

Arriving at Pembury Hospital at the end of the long and arduous 17 mile push Helen said “Stiff legs, sore feet and a few blisters, but that is nothing compared with the stress, pain and potential threats that will be endured by Maidstone Mums having to travel this journey whilst in a dangerous stage of labour. I hope the Pram Push has served to highlight the issue and raise public awareness. We must now continue to apply pressure and seek a review of the decision by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

A large petition is developing with thousands of signatures that will be delivered by Helen and the MASH team to the Shadow Minister for Health, Andrew Lansley MP, the Current Minister for Health, Andy Burnham MP and the Chief Executive of the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

BY ANNA WHITE

TORY hopeful Helen Grant pushed a pram from Maidstone to Pembury on Sunday to draw attention to the dangers of moving maternity services from the county town.

She completed the 17-mile trek from Maidstone Hospital to the site of Pembury Hospital where the consultant-led maternity unit will be moved to in 2011.

Mrs Grant, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and Weald, launched the protest to highlight the risks mothers could face if they have to travel that extra distance while in labour

Dozens of supporters joined former BBC South East Today presenter Geoff Clark at Maidstone Hospital to see Mrs Grant off, shortly after 9am on Sunday.

Wellwishers included Maidstone council leader Chris Garland; cabinet member for leisure and culture Brian Moss; Maidstone rural east county councillor Jenny Whittle, and Mrs Grant’s parliamentary rival, Liberal Democrat Peter Carroll.

Before the push got under way, Cllr Garland said: "The council supports this campaign. Maidstone has a population of 148,000 and to move its consultant-led maternity unit to Pembury is foolish."

Before the walk a convoy of lorries – all members of Marden Business Forum – drove past the hospital and sounded their horns in support. A road sweeper, supplied by Scarab Sweepers, stayed with Mrs Grant throughout the entire route.

Mrs Grant walked through Wateringbury, Nettlestead Green, East Peckham, Paddock Wood and Matfield, before arriving at Pembury Hospital at 2.50pm.

After completing the route, she told Yourmaidstone: “I have stiff legs, sore feet and a few blisters, but that’s nothing compared with the stress, pain and potential threats that will be endured by Maidstone mums having to travel this journey while in a dangerous stage of labour. "I hope the pram push has served to highlight the issue and raise awareness.We must continue to apply pressure and seek a review of the decision by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust."

Mrs Grant was also collecting signatures for a petition against the move she plans to send to Health Secretary Andy Burnham. Despite the backlash, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust intend to go ahead with the move, saying it will considerably improve the standards of care for women and children.

Under the proposal, Maidstone will only have a midwifery birthing unit from 2011.

The Start

Helen Grant's pram push to Pembury will commence just south of Maidstone Hospital next to Tesco Express in Hermitage Lane at 9.00am on Sunday 27th September.

Anyone and everyone who supports the campaign to retain a full maternity service in Maidstone Hospital is welcome to come along to see Helen and her pram off on the long journey and to sign the petition.

People can also support the walk by coming out onto the streets along the way.

The Route

Helen will be following the footpaths down Hermitage Lane (B2246) from the Hospital to the Fountain Pub crossroads, turning right along the A26 Tonbridge road to Wateringbury.

The route then turns left onto the B2015 down through Nettlestead and Nettlestead Green, and continues over the A228 going through the centre of East Peckham.

It then then follows the footpath by the A228 dual carriageway to the Paddock Wood roundabout, there taking the B2160 through Paddock Wood, to Matfield.

Branching off through Chestnut Lane, Foxhole Lane and Romford Road into Pembury village, the route eventually arrives at Pembury hospital after crossing over the A228.

Meet us half way along

Helen will be stopping for a refreshment break somewhere near Paddock Wood where well-wishers and supporters are welcome to join us for a drink and sign the petition.

Location of this stop and estimated timings for the entire route will be published on this website shortly.

• MAIDSTONE HOSPITAL UPDATE
• HELEN TAKES TO THE ROAD IN PROTEST AT THREAT TO TOWN’S MATERNITY SERVICES
• M.A.S.H. Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital

MAIDSTONE, Kent, 7th September 2009 On Sunday 27th September 2009, Helen Grant will push a pram 17 miles from Maidstone Hospital to Pembury Hospital near Tunbridge Wells.

"I want to make the point about how wrong and potentially dangerous it would be for Maidstone mums and families to have to travel so far for full maternity services from 2011."

That will be the latest stage of a campaign to retain full maternity services in Maidstone Hospital which has been running since March this year by the MASH team (Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital) of which Helen is a founding member.

A petition is also being sent to 25,000 homes asking for signatures in support of the campaign. Helen will deliver the results to The Shadow Minister for Health, Andrew Lansley MP, The Current Minister for Health, Andy Burnham MP and The Chief Executive of the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. The petition is also available for download HERE or can be signed online [by completing the form at the bottom of this page].

Details of the timing and the route will be available shortly, as well as details of how people can support the protest.

Please contact Helen if you have a personal story about how the loss of a consultant-lead maternity service could (or has) affected you.

Within minutes of giving birth, without any problems, my placenta refused to come away. After 10 minutes I was rushed to theatre for a D & C, but the procedure failed. After an emergency hysterectomy and the loss of 6 units of blood, thanks to an amazing specialist Doctor and medical team on site, my life was saved. My doctor, Mr Mossa, said "Nicky is very lucky to be alive. If the decision to operate had been left any longer she would not be around for her boys today."

MAIDSTONE HOSPITAL, 13TH JANUARY 2004

A mother who was diverted from Maidstone Hospital to Pembury in labour has raised questions over plans to put emergency care at just one of them. Jenny Whittle was rushed to Pembury when in the final stages of labour because, she was told, her local hospital in Maidstone was full.

Mrs Whittle said: "What happens if a woman starts giving birth at a Maidstone Hospital birthing unit and complications develop? I know two women from my antenatal class with predicted normal labours, then complications developed and the doctors were needed instantly, not after a 30-40 minute drive".

COURTESY OF THE KENT MESSENGER 3RD JULY 2009

Helen Grant has been working with MASH since its inception in July 2008. In February this year the team scored a significant victory in helping retain Emergency and Orthopaedic surgery services in Maidstone, perhaps for good. In March 2009 the battle shifted to retaining Full Maternity Services.

Helen said "I am personally vehemently opposed to the downgrading of services at Maidstone Hospital, especially the loss of a Full Maternity Service. A shift of this nature will inevitably lead to loss of life. As a mother of two myself I know the importance of having a full service hospital nearby and at the heart of the community. My first child came four weeks early, without warning, and there were complications. My husband and I were so grateful that our hospital was close enough and fully equipped to deal with that situation.

MASH is an organisation of highly influential local people united to define the services Maidstone wants in its hospital, and to campaign for the retention of services that are under threat and the return of those that have already been lost. I am a founding member of the executive committee of MASH. It is only when a diverse group of special people come together like this that real opposition can be mounted against decisions that are wrong for the people of Maidstone. I am very proud to be a part of this essential local campaign and I hope my experience of health services will help to achieve the best possible outcome. I am a former non-executive director of a large Primary Care Trust, my mother and grandmother were both nurses, my father was a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and my two sisters are also both medical professionals.

MASH is already showing its considerable weight in the campaign for services at Maidstone Hospital, having been immediately invited to meet the top people on both the Maidstone Hospital Trust Board and their overseeing Primary Care Trust board. The Chair of the executive committee is Conservative Councillor Eric Hotson and other members include Bob Bounds of the Kent Messenger and Dennis Fowle of the Downs Mail newspaper, who moved for the formation of MASH at a meeting on 21st July at Maidstone Town Hall. The medical profession are represented by Dr Paul Hobday, chairman of the Maidstone branch of the British Medical Association. MASH also has the full support of Ann Widdecombe and Hugh Robertson, the two Tory MPs whose constituencies are most affected by the threats to hospital services.

MASH met formally with Chief Executives of the Local Health Trusts recently. We gained very important reassurances relating to the continuation of a consultant lead A & E department were given and it was clear that the Trust envisaged a long term General District Hospital in Maidstone, catering for 95% of the population. I am also pleased that the Chronic Pain Unit is likely to return to Maidstone, thus preventing long and painful journeys for the people of this constituency. We will continue to fight to prevent the loss of womens' and childrens' services and emergency surgery.

On May 7th 2009 the MASH executive committee welcomed the delay in transferring 'Trauma' and 'Orthopaedics' to Tunbridge Wells until the new build at Pembury was complete. MASH opposition continues to be shown in relation to the planned loss of Women and Childrens' services from 2011. The meeting sought to further establish precisely what services were staying and which ones were going to the new Pembury Hospital in Tunbridge Wells. We also asked how the trust was proposing to communicate with residents and staff about future changes, and highlighted the importance of that process. We sought information about transport to Pembury hospital from different locations in the constituency too.

Some good news was tabled by the Trusts executive team, in particular a new laparoscopic (keyhole) centre is now open and plans have been approved for a post Graduate centre to enable an increase in training facilities.